Electric fire or radiator



June 24,1930. H. H. BERRY v BLBCTRIC'FIRE OR RADIATOR Filed May 13 1927 flzven f0 P:

flerbertfienzyBerf Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES HERBERT HENRY BERRY, OF LONDON, ENGLAND ELECTRIC FIRE OR RADIATOR Application filed May 13, 1927, Serial No. 191,232, and. in Great Britain .Tune 9, 1926.

This invention relates to so-ealled electric fires of the kind in which imitation fuel is used with flicker-producing devices in con junction with electrical lamps under or behind the fuel. Fires of this kind have been made in various forms with reflectors behind the fuel and with a heating element between the fuel and the reflector.

As a result of experiments I have found that a peculiarly realistic flame effect can be produced on a back or reflector of a fireplace, grate or the like if the imitation fuel is extended practically up to the back or reflector, but with light spaces, chinks or openings in or behind the innermost edge of the fuel, so that the flickering light from the lamps can pass through the said spaces, chinks or openings directly on the back or reflector. The heating element, if used. is positioned away from the part of the reflector upon which the flame effect is desired, say for example in a hood or canopy over the fire or elsewhere, as may be required.

The reflecting surface upon which the flickering light is received may be a separate surface for that purpose or it may be part of a general or main reflector which may also reflect the heat from the heating element.

I find that if the said back or reflector is painted or otherwise treated to form a matt surface an excellent flame and smoke effect is obtained on it and that the color of the flames can be gotten to so correspond with that of imitation fuel that practically the whole of the back part of the grate, stove or radiator assumes a very realistic fire effect. The color on the back can be obtained by the insertion of a piece of glass in the space or opening as a screen, and if rough glass, such as ribbed or muranese is used, by refraction the light rays from the lamp and its flicker device are broken up and are seen on the back as constantly varying almost vertical flames which have a wavy formation and appear very real. The length of these flames can be varied according to the positioning of the parts and angle of the screen.

I will now describe my invention with ref erence to the example shown in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is substantially a vertical section through an electric fire embodying my invention, the heating element being separate from the actual fire, and shown diagrammatically.

Figure 2 shows another form of my fire heater or radiator in perspective, and

Figure 3 is a vertical section therethrough.

There is illustrated a combined radiator and imitation grate fire, adapted to installation in a fire-place or to be set in any convenient plate, usable as a portable or permanent fixture. The grate or tire of Figure 1 comprises a box a containing a lamp 1) and a flicker device a of familiar construction. Upon the top and front of the box (which parts may be mirrors, if desired) there is placed imitation fuel (Z which may be transparent or semitransparent glass colored red, or other suitable imitation fuel. The inner or back edge of the top fuel stops short of the back of the box, forming a space f or slot, through which it is intended that light shall pass from the lamp. This back of the box is extended upwardly a distance above the top of the imitation fuel and provided with a suitable reflecting surface as at e which may be termed the back reflector and corresponds to the back or reflector before referred to. Between the slot f and light I) there is interposed a device 9 for coloring the light passing through the slot, and the flicker device 0 is preferably arranged so as to cause suitable flickering of the light reaching the coloring device. The device 9 may be muranese glass or other approved element having an irregular surface, whereby a beam of light sweeping across it will be irregularly reflected and given peculiar abberations. It preferable that the front edge of the slot f should be irregular and it may be formed by the projection of parts of the fuel d beyond other parts or beyond the support or 95 top of the box on which the fuel is mounted. The reflector or back 6 is preferably finished with a matt surface, which may be done by painting it with a drop gray paint.

A reflector h and heater element- 0 are dia- 100 grammatically shown in this view as a separate structure in front of which my improved imitation lire may be installed. Other forms of heater unit an d heat reflector may of course be utilized and a part of the heat reflector device may be utilized as the back reflector first mentioned, as at e, in Figures 1 and as will be described.

In Figures 1 and Q a unitary imitation tire and heat radiator is indicated. comprising in toto a heating applianc although the imi tation lire may be operated alone without utilizing the heating element, and the dc ice would then supply an immaterial amount of heat, as the lamp 7) would ordinarily be employed primarily as a source of light' The same is true of the first desc *ibed form of the device. It may be found. desirable. however. to utilize a light source which will also radiate an appreciable amount of heat and I regard this within the scope of my invention.

The structure of Figures 1 and 2 comprises two plates 'i; a grate front j connected to the side plates; an upper back plate which is also COlllieKiQCl between the plates its upper part being curved forwardly to form a canopy 7: a lower back plate 2/; between the plates 2' as well as a bottom plate ur. The last mentioned two connectin plates with the grate front form a box-like portion in which the lamp 0 flicker device 0 and color screen and refractor 5 are mounted as in the box a. The plates '1' are formed with lugs t at their inner sides to support an inclined plate on which the artificial fuel (Z is ar'anged, this plate extending a short distance above the lower edge of the back plate 7c and stopping short thereof to form a slot as before referred to. The plates '2'. are flanged as at 1) for stiffening, as well to fit and retain the plate 71: in proper form and the parts may be secured together by rivets r at proper places. The bottom plate '21: is shown as being formed with a slot in which there is mounted a color screen 0 similar to the one and slightly forwardly of the lamp Z), so that light from the lamp may fall on a hearth or other surface under the grate front, as well as some light from the flicker device, if desired. The mat reflector it may be formed as shown in Figure 1, if desired, or otherwise, the showing in Figures 2 and 3 including a top portion 121 over and extending for vardly of the heat element :r and a downwardly extending part it rearwardlv of the unit m and ranning forwardly a little. This reflector i1 is supported by lugs s on the side plates '2'. It also may engage the flanges 12 and be held in place by being simply set bctweei'i these tlan; ;es and the lugs a as shown. The plates '1'. may be retained in ope 'atire position by means of knobs and connecting rod u at the upper part, if desired. Inwardly extended corner parts of the grate front j may be secured to the lower flanged edges of the plates i by ornamental knob screws 1).

The fuel (7 and its supporting plate may be movable fo access to the lamp and other coacting parts, or a door otherwise provided. as may be found desirable, the plate to being shown as remo able in the present in stance, the flange 1) being interrupted at, 1 to permit its remova as may be understood. An air admission slot is also formed in the bottom of the device at the rear part for admission of air by which the flicker device as usually constructed may be caused to operate.

The forward face of the back plate 7a being siitably finished or coated as at c from a point below the slot. 7' to a suitable height, and the lamp 6 and flicker device 0 func' tioning in conjunction with the scr en or refractor g, it will be seen that as observed from in front of the device irregularly shaped and changing hapes of lighted areas will be seen on the su face 0 darting upward and downward.

As ordinary flicker devices cause beam-1 of light to move with a sweeping movement, if the screen g is of irregular surface formation the refraction of such moving beams will vary as they progress. causing the refracted parts to move up and down or from side to side or both, and such parts intersecting the part 6 will suggest flames to the ole server. In conjunction with the rear edge of the artificial fuel or its support, these btllns will be further modified by being cut off or narrowed in irregular fashioin still more effectively producing an effect simulating flames on the back plate, and if the irregular edges of the artificial fuel itself utilized as the forward edge of the slot through which the light passes to the back p ate this irregular movement and variation of form will be enhanced. A very close simulation of a flaming tire is thus produced by my invention. 7

The flicker device and light reflectors or .ctors may be variously constructed in accordance with familiar or other approved practices, and the heat unit and the heat rellector may be modified in various ways within the scope of the invention, as will be u iderstood.

What I claim is 1. An imitation tire of the kind provided with imitation fuel and a light source having a iiicker-prozlucing device, a reflector at he back of the fire, the said fuel having its innermo;-;t edge closely adjacent said reflector, said edge having irregularities forming longitudinally spaced light transmitting 'cccsses and light interrupting projections hrough which flickering light from the ight source is thrown on the reflector, said icker-producin g device being constructed to form longitudinally moving upwardly extending beams sweeping said edge.

2. An imitation fire of the kind provided with imitation fuel, a light source thereunder and means to cause a directional flickering of the light therefrom including upwardly extending beams moving longitudin ally of the grate; a reflector at the back of the fire, the fuel having its rearmost edge adjacent the reflector and having said edge formed with irregularities between salients of which light may pass from said source to the reflector, the flicker device being adapted to produce upwardly extending longitudinally movable beams to be interrupted by said salients, the reflector, the flicker device and said edge being constructed and arranged so that moving images simulating tongues of flame are formed on the reflector.

3. A device of the character described provided with imitation fuel and a lamp having a flicker-producing device, a reflector at the back of said fuel, said fuel having its innermost edge closely adjacent the reflector,

and a refractor of irregular form interposed between the flicker-producing device and said reflector, whereby beams of light moving across the refractor and passing therethrough and through the space between the fuel and reflector will be caused to move up and down and otherwise upon the reflector above the fuel.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HERBERT HENRY BERRY. 

